out of the room. However, we were left alone, and the first thing
the poor young thing did when she could speak or move, was to throw
herself into my arms and cry:

'Tell me of him!'

'He sent his love. He commended you to me,' I began.

'Did he? Oh, my dear hero! And how is he looking?'

So it was of her husband, not her brother, that she was thinking. I
gave me a pang, and yet I could not wonder; and alas, d'Aubepine had
not given me any message at all for her. However, I told her what I
thought would please her--of his handsome looks, and his favour with
the Duke of Enghien, and her great dark eyes began to shine under
their tear-swollen lids; but before long, that terrible woman knocked
at the door again to say that Madame la Comtesse's carriage was
ready, and that M. le Marquis awaited Madame la Vicomtesse.

We arranged our disordered dress, and went down hand-in-hand. The
Marquis and the Abbess both embraced the poor little Countess, and I
assured her that we would meet again, and be much together.

'Madame la Comtesse will do herself the honour of paying her respects
to Madame la Vicomtesse,' said the dame de compagnie with the elder
M. d'Aubepine, and had regulated her household of late years.

'I congratulate myself on not belonging to that respectable
household,' said my brother.